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The Primal Shift

The Primal Shift

Written by: Michael Kummer
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About this listen

 Primal Shift is about helping you achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society. We'll talk about every aspect of a healthy life, including sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management, environmental toxins, hormesis, belonging and tribalism, and reconnecting with nature. Get ready to unlock the transformative power of nature as the ultimate biohack, revolutionize your health and reconnect you with your primal self. Each episode is short and concise, providing you with actionable tips and tricks you can use to start living a more primal lifestyle today.© 2023 Hygiene & Healthy Living Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • 124: The Glyphosate Study That Had to Be Retracted!

    124: The Glyphosate Study That Had to Be Retracted!
    Jan 21 2026

    Learn More:
    Support your nutritional foundation in a toxic modern world with MK Supplements:

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    New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/climate/glyphosate-roundup-retracted-study.html

    Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Peluva!

    Peluva makes minimalist shoes to support optimal foot, back and joint health. I started wearing Peluvas several months ago, and I haven't worn regular shoes since. I encourage you to consider trading your sneakers or training shoes for a pair of Peluvas, and then watch the health of your feet and lower back improve while reducing your risk of injury.

    To learn more about why I love Peluva barefoot shoes, check out my in-depth review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/peluva-review/

    And use code MICHAEL to get 10% off your first pair: https://michaelkummer.com/go/peluva

    In this episode:
    00:00 Intro
    01:05 Understanding glyphosate: What it is and why it matters
    01:29 The trust issue in scientific research
    02:26 Glyphosate's mechanism and impact on health
    03:35 Economic dependence and objectivity erosion
    04:32 Chronic exposure concerns and scientific debate
    07:29 Practical tips to reduce glyphosate exposure
    11:18 The bigger picture: Systemic issues and personal responsibility
    13:14 Conclusion: Questioning incentives and making informed choices

    Find me on social media for more health and wellness content:

    • Website: https://michaelkummer.com/

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/

    • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/

    • Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/

    [Medical Disclaimer]

    The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health.

    [Affiliate Disclaimer]

    I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.

    #Glyphosate #WeedKiller
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    15 mins
  • 123: Where I get my blood panels and what to look out for

    123: Where I get my blood panels and what to look out for
    Jan 14 2026
    Most people assume they're being proactive about their health because they get an annual physical and a standard blood panel. A few numbers come back "normal," the doctor gives a thumbs-up, and that's the end of the conversation. The problem is that those labs are often incomplete and disconnected from how people actually live, train, eat and recover. Many of the markers that matter most for long-term metabolic health and inflammation — like fasting insulin and high-sensitivity CRP — are routinely excluded. So what you're left with are numbers that often only flag problems once things are already far off track. On top of that, testing once a year gives you no meaningful sense of trends, context, or direction. This episode looks at a more practical approach: identifying the biomarkers that actually reflect metabolic health, inflammation, hormonal balance and recovery, and finding ways to test them regularly without relying on one-off lab work. It also addresses why timing, training load, and recent stress matter when you get blood drawn — and how ignoring those variables can lead to misleading results and unnecessary concern. The broader point is simple: meaningful blood work isn't just about collecting more data. It's about measuring the right things, testing often enough to see patterns, and interpreting results in the context of your lifestyle. When you do that, blood work becomes a useful feedback tool instead of a once-a-year formality that tells you very little about where your health is actually headed. Learn more: What It Means to Be Metabolically Healthy [Blog Post]: https://michaelkummer.com/metabolic-health/ Affordable At-Home Blood Testing with SiPhox Health [Video]: https://youtu.be/R7qRLzBcp94 63: HbA1c Levels Explained: Why They May Be High Without High Blood Sugar: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/63-hba1c-levels-explained-why-they-may-be-high-without-high-blood-sugar/ Thank you to this episode's sponsor, OneSkin! What sold me was seeing real results. My wife started using OneSkin, and the improvement in her skin was obvious — not subtle, not hype. OneSkin products are built around their patented OS-01 peptide, developed from longevity research and tested for sensitive skin. Full review here: https://michaelkummer.com/health/oneskin-review/ For a limited time, get up to 30% off your first three subscription orders — no code required: https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1289595/3445782/31050 In this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:19 The importance of comprehensive blood panels 05:36 Key biomarkers to monitor 09:43 Affordable and convenient blood testing options 18:03 Final thoughts Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.
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    20 mins
  • 122: Paul Saladino Is Not a Fan of Sauna Anymore

    122: Paul Saladino Is Not a Fan of Sauna Anymore
    Jan 7 2026
    The general consensus on sauna bathing is that it's a powerful tool for longevity, recovery and metabolic health. More sessions, higher heat, longer durations — all of these strategies are commonly assumed to produce better outcomes. But after hearing Paul Saladino question whether sauna use can add unnecessary stress for people who already train hard or live under chronic pressure, I felt it was worth taking a closer look at when sauna therapy is best leveraged and when it might do more harm than good. Here's the core issue: sauna use is a physiological stressor. It raises core temperature, increases cortisol, can lower HRV in the short term, and often causes temporary spikes in blood glucose. And if your overall stress load is already high, adding another stressor on top of that won't necessarily improve recovery. In other words, the thing you should be concerned about is total stress load. When hard training, poor sleep, work pressure, and everyday life are already consuming most of your recovery capacity, spending long periods in very hot saunas can stop being adaptive and start competing with recovery. At the same time, when you zoom out, the long-term evidence supporting sauna bathing remains strong — even for people who train regularly. These benefits – including improvements in cardiovascular function, insulin sensitivity, heat tolerance and sleep quality – play out over years and decades, not session by session. And I suspect the number of people who train so hard that their system is pushed to its limit is relatively low. So in my view, discouraging sauna use is the wrong overall approach; for most people in most scenarios, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Still, it can be beneficial to pay attention to dosage and timing. Long, very hot sauna sessions layered onto hard training and inadequate recovery can overwhelm your ability to recover, rather than support it. Used more deliberately — i.e., shorter sessions, reasonable temperatures, and better placement within the week — time in the sauna often has the opposite effect, helping people unwind, sleep better, and recover more fully – even when their fitness trackers show short-term fluctuations. Learn more: Paul Saladino's Video: Why I Changed My Mind on Saunas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4ID6_4BGY Infrared vs Traditional Saunas [Blog Post]: https://michaelkummer.com/infrared-vs-traditional-saunas/ Benefits of Using a Sauna and Ice Bath Together [Blog Post]: https://michaelkummer.com/ice-bath-and-sauna/ Thank you to this episode's sponsor, OneSkin! OneSkin's lineup of topical skin health products leverage the power of the company's proprietary OS-01 peptide to remove dead skin cells, improve collagen production, increase skin hydration and more. Check out my before and after photos in my OneSkin review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/oneskin-review/ Get 15% off with my discount code MKUMMER: https://michaelkummer.com/go/oneskinshop In this episode: 00:00 Introduction: Can sauna hurt your recovery? 00:45 Paul Saladino's arguments against sauna 05:27 Scientific perspective on sauna benefits 07:20 Debunking sauna myths 14:52 Practical sauna guidelines 20:21 Cold plunging insights 22:44 Conclusion: Finding the right balance Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.
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    24 mins
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